Part 15 (1/2)
But besides prematurely destroying the body, alcoholic drink injures the immortal mind. To ill.u.s.trate the blinding and perverting influence of even a small quant.i.ty of such liquor, let a strictly temperate man spend an evening with a dozen others indulging themselves ”moderately:” they will be sure to say things which to him will appear foolish, if not wicked; and which will appear so to _themselves_ on reflection; though at the time they may not be conscious of any impropriety. And if this ”moderate indulgence” be habitual, there must, of course, be an increased mental perversion; till conscience is ”seared as with a hot iron,” and the mind is lost to the power of being affected by truth, as well as to the capacity for usefulness. And is this destruction of the talents G.o.d has given, consistent with the injunction to ”glorify G.o.d in body and spirit?”
Again, the habit of drinking _is incompatible with that eminent holiness to which you are commanded to aspire_. The great Founder of Christianity enjoins, ”Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This will be the true Christian's desire. And a soul aspiring to the image and full enjoyment of G.o.d, will have no relish for any counteracting influence.
Is it said, that for eminently holy men to ”mingle strong drink” may be inconsistent; but not so for those less spiritual? This is making the want of spirituality an excuse for sensuality; thus adding sin to sin, and only provoking the Most High. His mandate is universal: ”Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
To this end you are charged to ”abstain from fleshly l.u.s.ts, which war against the soul;” to ”mortify your members, which are earthly;” to ”exercise yourselves rather unto G.o.dliness;” to ”be kindly affectioned towards all men.” But who does not know that ”strong drink,” not only ”eats out the brain,” but ”taketh away the heart,” diminishes ”natural affection,” and deadens the moral sensibilities, while it cherishes those very pa.s.sions which the Holy Spirit condemns? And how can one aspiring to the divine image, drink that which thus tends to destroy all that is pure, spiritual, and lovely, while it kindles the very elements of h.e.l.l?
The use of such liquor _is utterly inconsistent with any thing like high spiritual enjoyment, clear spiritual views, or true devotion_. A sense of shame must inevitably torment the professor who in such a day cannot resist those ”fleshly l.u.s.ts which war against the soul;” his brethren will turn from him in pity or disgust; and, what is infinitely more affecting, the Holy Spirit will not abide with him. Thus, without an approving conscience, without cordial Christian intercourse, without the smiles of the Comforter, how can he enjoy religion?
Abstinence from highly stimulating liquor or food has ever been regarded indispensable to that serenity of soul and clearness of views so infinitely desirable in matters of religion. Hence, the ministers of religion especially, were commanded not to touch any thing like strong drink when about to enter the sanctuary. Lev. 10:9. And _this_, it is added, _shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; that ye may put difference between holy and unholy_; clearly showing G.o.d's judgment of the effect of temperance on spiritual discernment.
On the principle of abstinence we may account, in part, for that holy ecstasy, that amazing clearness of spiritual vision, sometimes enjoyed on the deathbed. ”Administer nothing,” said the eloquent dying Summerfield, ”that will create a stupor, not even so much as a little porter and water--_that I may have an unclouded view_.” For the same reason, Dr. Rush, who so well knew the effect of strong drink, peremptorily ordered it not to be given him in his last hours. And it is recorded, that the dying SAVIOUR, ”who knew all things,” when offered ”wine mingled with myrrh,” ”_received it not_.” The truly wise will not barter visions of glory for mere animal excitement and mental stupefaction.
Equally ill.u.s.trative of our principle is the confession of an aged deacon, accustomed to drink moderately: ”I always, in prayer, felt a coldness and heaviness at heart--_never suspecting it was the whiskey_!
but since that is given up, I have _heavenly communion_!” O, what an increase of pure light and joy might there be, would all understand this, and be _temperate in all things_.
The use of such liquor _is inconsistent with the sacred order and discipline of the church_. A venerable minister, of great experience, gives it as the result of his observation, that _nine-tenths_ of all the cases calling for church discipline have in former years been occasioned by this liquor. This is a tremendous fact. But a little examination will convince any one that the estimate is not too high. And can it be right to continue an indulgence that brings tenfold, or even fourfold more trouble and disgrace on the church than all other causes united? Do not these foul ”spots in your feasts of charity” clearly say, ”Touch not the unclean thing?” Can we countenance that which is certain to bring deep reproach on the church of Christ? ”It must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.”
The use of alcoholic liquor by the religious community _is inconsistent with the hope of reforming and saving the intemperate_; and thus shows a _want of love to souls_. The Christian knows, that _drunkards cannot inherit eternal life_. He knows also, that hundreds of thousands now sustain or are contracting this odious character; and that if the evil be not arrested, millions more will come on in the same track, and go down to the burning gulf. But the man who drinks just so much as to make himself ”feel well,” cannot reprove the drunkard who only does the same thing. The drunkard may say to him, ”My appet.i.te is stronger than yours; more, therefore, is necessary, in order to make me '_feel well_;' and if you cannot deny yourself, how can I control a more raging appet.i.te?”
This rebuke would be unanswerable.
All agree that total abstinence is the only hope of the drunkard. But is it not preposterous to expect him to abstain, if he sees the minister, the elder, the deacon, and other respectable men indulging their cups?
With mind enfeebled and character lost, can he summon resolution to be singular, and live more temperately than his acknowledged superiors?--thus telling to all that _he has been a drunkard_! This cannot be expected of poor sunken human nature. No; let moderate drinking be generally allowed, and in less than thirty years, according to the past ratio of their deaths, armies of drunkards greater than all the American churches, will go from this land of light and freedom to ”everlasting chains of darkness.” If, then, the drunkard is worth saving, if he has a soul capable of s.h.i.+ning with seraphim, and if you have ”any bowels of mercies,” then give him the benefit of your example.
Professing to ”do good to _all_ as you have opportunity,” be consistent in this matter. By a little self-denial you may save mult.i.tudes from ruin. But if you cannot yield _a little_, to save fellow-sinners from eternal pain, have you the spirit of Him who, for his enemies, exchanged a throne for a cross?
Could all the wailings of the thousand thousands slain by this poison come up in one loud thunder of remonstrance on your ear, you might then think it wrong to sanction its use. But ”let G.o.d be true,” and those wailings are as real as if heard in ceaseless thunders.
Again, the use of intoxicating drink _is inconsistent with true Christian patriotism_. All former efforts to arrest the national sin of intemperance have failed. A glorious effort is now making to remove it with pure water. Thousands are rejoicing in the remedy. Not a sober man in the nation really doubts its efficacy and importance. Who, then, that regards our national character, can hesitate to adopt it?
Especially, who that is a Christian, can cling to that which has darkened the pathway of heaven, threatened our liberties, desolated families and neighborhoods, and stigmatized us as a ”nation of drunkards?”
Is it said, that the influence of a small temperance society, or church, is unimportant? Not so; its light may save the surrounding region; its example may influence a thousand churches. And let the thousand thousand professing Christians in this land, with such others as they can enlist, resolve on TOTAL ABSTINENCE--let this great example be held up to view--and it would be such a testimony as the world has not yet seen.
Let such a mult.i.tude show, that these drinks are unnecessary, and reformation easy, and the demonstration would be complete. Few of the moral would continue the poison; thousands of the immoral abandon it at once; and the nation be reformed.
The use of this liquor is _inconsistent with the proper influence of Christian example_. The Saviour says, ”Let your light so s.h.i.+ne before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” But will men esteem Christians the more for _drinking_, and thus be led to glorify G.o.d on their behalf? Or will the Saviour praise them for this, ”when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe?” Rather, will not their drinking lead some to excess, and thus sully the Creator's work? Nay, is it not certain, that if the religious community indulge, the example will lead _millions_ to drunkenness and perdition? And, on the other hand, is it not morally certain, that if they abstain, their combined influence will save millions from infamy and ruin? How, then, in view of that day when all the bearings of your conduct shall be judged, can you hesitate on which side to give your influence? It is not a little matter; for who can conceive the results of even _one_ impulse, among beings connected with others by ten thousand strings!
The use of this liquor _is inconsistent with, that harmony and brotherly love which Christ requires in his professed followers_. He requires them to ”love one another with a pure heart, fervently;” to ”be all of one mind;” to be ”of one heart and one soul.” But who does not see the utter impossibility of this, if some continue an indulgence which others regard with abhorrence? Since public attention has been turned to the subject, thousands have come to the full conviction, that to use intoxicating liquor is a sinful as well as foolish practice. The most distinguished lights of the church, and such as peculiarly adorn human nature, embrace this sentiment. And how can you a.s.sociate with these, and yet continue a habit viewed by them with disgust? Ah, the man, however decent, who ”will have his gla.s.s, _not caring_ whom he offends,”
_must have it_; but he must also ”_have his reward_.” ”Whoso shall _offend one of these little ones which believe in me_, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck.”
The use of intoxicating drink, in this day of light, _is incompatible with the hope of receiving any general effusion of the Holy Spirit_.
Christians are allowed to hope for the Spirit to be poured out only in answer to prayer--true, spiritual, believing prayer. ”If they regard iniquity in their heart, the Lord will not hear them.” If they wilfully cherish sin, they cannot have faith. Indeed, how odious the spectacle of a company looking towards heaven, but in the posture of devotion breathing forth the foul, fiery element--literally ”offering strange fire before the Lord!”
We are not, then, to expect divine influence to come down ”like showers that water the earth,” till we put away that which we know tends only to wither and consume all the ”fruits of the Spirit.”
The _waste of property_ in the use of alcoholic drink _is inconsistent with faithful stewards.h.i.+p for Christ_. Religious ”contributions” are among the appointed means for saving the world. But allow each of the tens of thousands of professing Christians in this land only three cents worth of such liquor daily, and the annual cost is some MILLIONS OF DOLLARS; which would be sufficient to support THOUSANDS OF MISSIONARIES.
Let ”stewards” of the Lord's bounty, then, who would consume their portion of this ”_little_” on appet.i.te, ponder and blush for such inconsistency; and let them hasten to clear off the heavy charge, ”_Ye have robbed me, even this whole nation_.”
Again, to indulge in intoxicating liquor _is inconsistent with attempts to recommend the Gospel to the heathen_. Nothing has done more, in former years, to prejudice our Indian neighbors, and hinder among them the influence of the Gospel, than those liquors we have encouraged them to use. Several tribes have set the n.o.ble example of excluding them by the strong arm of law; and it is only by convincing such that really consistent Christians do not encourage these evils, that our missionaries have been able to gain their confidence.